news Currys launches tech
emergency service C
urrys has launched a live repairs service, connecting its customers with
its repairs experts via video link. The new RepairLive service, which initially launches on Currys’ laptops category, provides customers with expert advice, all from the comfort of their own sofa, helping them to identify the cause of a fault, undertake DIY fixes, as well as to assist with arranging a repair or return of their product. David Rosenberg, director of service operations at Currys, said this industry-leading proposition is available if a customer finds fault with a laptop purchased from Currys, or if they’re thinking of returning it. The launch of RepairLive follows the successful roll-out of Currys’ ShopLive service in April 2020, which is still going strong and sees the retailer offering a live online personal
shopping service via video link. RepairLive extends the ShopLive principles but connects customers with engineers in the retailer’s electronic repairs centre, which is home to 1,600 expert colleagues who made more than 1.7 million repairs across the Currys Group in 2021/22. Mr Rosenberg said: “At Currys we recognise
the pressing need to improve our use of resources and create circular business models,
Repic research highlights scale of unwanted IT equipment
which is why we are a leader in extending the life of technology through our repair, recycling and reuse programmes.” “With Repair Live we offer real guidance from
real-life tech experts to keep our customers’ tech going and are resolving nearly half of all laptop issues on these calls, ensuring our customers aren’t unnecessarily parted from their tech while it undergoes a repair assessment. Nothing beats talking to a real person when it comes to tech advice and what’s great about RepairLive is that customers can quickly and easily chat to one of our trusted Repair Lab colleagues and all from the comfort of their own home.” Initially launched solely on laptops, the retailer
plans to expand the RepairLive service across multiple categories, with roughly 60 experts to serve this demand, later this year. In a pilot, the call-to-action engagement rate
exceeded that of its tech partner’s benchmark by 497%, affirming that customers are ready to engage with this type of service solution. Mr Rosenberg added: “RepairLive launches
after a lengthy online trial which found that it reduces costs for collected and recycled products, through avoiding returns and repairs.”
Half of shoppers will spend on electricals this Black Friday
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ew research commissioned by REPIC found that UK households are holding on to more unwanted IT equipment
than any other small appliances and gadgets. A staggering 11.7 million laptops and 9.2m tablets that either have
the potential to be passed on or be recycled, both featured in in the five most hoarded items, in first and third place respectively. Completing the top five most hoarded unwanted items, that could be either passed on or recycled, were USB sticks, kettles and printers/ scanners. The survey, launched to coincide with International E-Waste Day,
also revealed that a combined 39m IT devices – which equates to the equivalent of 1.4 unused IT products per household – has the potential to be passed on or recycled. Louise Grantham, REPIC’s chief executive, said: “As part of the UK’s transition towards a circular economy, it is important consumers understand the value in recycling end of life electricals for either reuse, refurbishment or remanufacturing of the secondary raw materials into new products.”
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www.ierdaily.co.uk October/November 2022
ew research of 2,000 UK adults claims that Black Friday is expected to fall flat as spending is predicted to fall from £2bn
to £1.7bn over the sales period. That said, the same research, commissioned by hotukdeals in
partnership with Retail Economics, stated that half of shoppers will spend on electricals, in what is expected to be the most popular category on Friday, November 25. As Brits struggle with soaring prices and energy bills as the cost of living
crisis takes hold, households are expected to spend £177 each, down from £200 in 2021. Vix Leyton, head of marketing content at hotukdeals, said: “Most of the spending is expected to be led by Gen Z and Millennial shoppers as they focus their purchases on electrical items or clothing and footwear. “Half of shoppers will spend on electricals, the most popular category
during Black Friday, followed by 42% buying clothing and footwear and 30% purchasing toys and games in the run up to Christmas.”
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